68°
STAMFORD, Conn. You may not know Saam Greenman. But anyone who drives down East Main Street in Stamford toward the Shippan Avenue intersection has seen himor at least his likeness. His life-size cardboard cut-out stands in front of Capt. Saams Scuba School, welcoming aspiring divers.
As a young man, Greenman says, he was very bold and often got into trouble. That changed, however, once family friends began taking him scuba diving. It was a way to handle my sense of adventure without getting into trouble, the Stamford native says.
Although Greenman always loved diving and the water, he did not pursue a diving career at first. The reason is that he had gone to a military school growing up and, since he did not enjoy it, decided the Coast Guard would not be for him.
Instead, he pursued a career in information technology, and taught diving on the side. But after he was laid off in 2001, he needed a next career step, and that turned out to be Capt. Saams Scuba School.
I had to do something to put bread on the table, he says.
His school gives basic diving instruction to anyone who is over 10 years old, is in good health, and can swim. The school stresses safety in all of its classes.
In addition to training, Greenman leads diving expeditions, and though they take place in the sound instead of the tropics, they are still exciting, he says. When people get out of the water they are so surprised, he said, adding that there is abundant plant and animal life found in local waters.
Is there anyone in Stamford you want to learn more about? Let reporter Anthony Buzzeo know and he will try to feature that person on The Daily Stamford. Anthony Buzzeo can be reached at tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
